Mar. 22, 2011
An American, Blake Mykoskie, was visiting in Argentina and was moved by the fact that the children did not have shoes. He found that in many developing countries, many people did not have shoes.
To bring awareness to the public, he started a company called TOMS Shoes where for every pair sold, a pair of shoes gets donated to countries where people are without shoes.
On Tuesday, April 5, students at Shawnee State University will join a national movement by going without shoes to help raise awareness of the fact that many children are still without shoes. Students Mandie Maxwell and Rachel Peters, M3C Ameri-Corps Fellows, are organizing the event.
"It might be cold, it'll probably be uncomfortable, and our feet will certainly get dirty, but by doing so, we'll help raise awareness of the impact a simple pair of shoes can bring to a child's life," Maxwell said.
Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot and walk without shoes for miles every day. Often they cannot attend school without proper footwear.
In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from a debilitating disease called podoconiosis, which is preventable with basic hygiene and shoes.
"Being involved in the event will educate the community, and impact the lives of children around the world," Peters said.
To kick off One Day Without Shoes, a 35-minute documentary about Mykoskie, his family, friends and TOMS staff taking an emotional journey to the remote villages of Argentina where they delivered 10,000 pairs of shoes.
Kenneth Kokin, Sundance award-winning filmmaker, went on this incredible 3,300-mile journey through South America, to chronicle what has become known as the first TOMS Shoes Story in an inspiring look at how a simple idea can change lives through the power of giving.
The documentary will be shown at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 4, in Clark Memorial Library's Flohr Lecture Hall. For more information on One Day Without Shoes, visit www.OneDayWithoutShoes.com.